What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madison has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).

Alstead has the most people working from home (12.1%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Madison	Alstead
People
Population	2,680Highest	1,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.5%Highest NH: +4.6%	-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50.3±9.7Lowest 16% above NH	56±3.3Highest 29% above NH
	Alstead and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2%	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	23.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1%	27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Alstead and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%	3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%
	Alstead and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,697±$11kHighest 4% above NH	$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$388,700±$36kHighest 3% below NH	$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,556±$256 4% above NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,074Lowest 39% below NH	$5,322Highest 20% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69.2%±46Lowest NH: 48.2%	72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Alstead and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%	8.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.4%Highest NH: 72.8%	76%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below NH	32 minHighest 19% above NH
Work from home	8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8%	12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Alstead and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Madison School District	Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.